Note: I've received a bucketload of reviews now and I am extremely flattered and grateful, thank you. Even the flames were well written and accurate in their criticisms. Recently I wrote a plan of all the chapters so I know what I'm doing now; hopefully things should be clearer.
I own EVERYTHING Harry Potter. Yes, everything. Hmmm. You know I'm lying, don't you?
Evil bunny- I will thanks, though I doubt I stand much of a chance! Thanks anyway and remember that I always look forward to your reviews.
Storywritter10971- Thanks for all the reviews! I love it when someone begins reviewing from the early chapters and follows it up to present day- I enjoy your opinions and thoughts.
tRuE2U- lol it's hard for Draco to be pushed into anything he doesn't want to do, but you know Lucius, he can be worse than his son when provoked. Keep reading- he may play an important part in the whole thing.
Aquaprincess1- conflict is an understatement… prepare for big scale war! Joking, or am I? Thanks again, keep reading.
Caitlyn- okay that was a flame. I appreciate your opinion nonetheless, though I doubt you'll be even reading this now.
Da dancer- thanks for reading. And Hermione's pregnancy is a vital part to the plot.
"Nothing," Hermione mumbled, staring at the floor and feeling her stomach twist uncomfortably. There was absolutely no way she could tell him now- not after he had just poured his heart out to her. Guilt ate away at her and she couldn't look him in the eye. "I was just- you know, going to say the same thing really."
"Okay," Harry said simply, hugging her. "Shall we get started on that Defence Against The Dark Arts essay? You know Fleur- erm, I mean, Professor Delacour- wants that handed in soon."
"Yes, we'd better," Hermione said briskly, glad of the change of topic. For the next couple of hours she sat next to Harry and scribbled away, but her heart wasn't in it, and after rereading she realised that her work made no sense at all. She sighed and laid down her pen just as Ginny and a disgruntled looking Ron emerged from the portrait hole.
"Took forever," Ron grumbled. "That wasn't help, I practically did it for you!"
"You exaggerate," Ginny scoffed teasingly. "Hey you two, slaving away?"
"It's boring," Harry said, "but I'm done anyway. Er- I told Hermione about us. You know what I mean." His cheeks went a little pink, as did Ginny, and she muttered, "Oh."
Ron stifled laughter. "Whatever. Anyway I've seen enough of writing for one day, Harry. Shall we go have a snowball fight?" Harry leapt up eagerly and pulled on his coat, hurrying after Ron and a couple of other Gryffindors who had overheard and wanted to join in too. Ginny sat down next to Hermione.
"Hi Ginny," Hermione said, looking into her friend's eyes. It was understandable why Harry would like her; she had long straight red hair, green eyes and pale but glowing skin, her figure was lean and athletic but she was still small and feminine. But it wasn't looks that defined Ginny. She was brave but fiery, fiercely loyal and affectionate. Yep, Hermione was pleased that Harry had found his perfect girl because there was no woman she trusted more than Ron's little sister. "I'm pleased to hear about you and Harry, it's great!"
Ginny blushed. "I wanted to tell you, but Harry said he should tell you himself, because you're like his best friend. Ron just thinks it's funny; he said Harry's better than Dean Thomas anyway." She laughed and so did Hermione, but rather sadly.
"You still feeling ill?" Ginny asked, concerned. "Come on, let's go up to your dormitory." Ginny led Hermione up and they sat on her bed, messing around with some of Hermione's make up. She didn't use much ("Natural's better") but the items she did have were expensive and elegant. Ginny examined a lipstick and applied a little to her own lips; it was pink and made her look very pretty indeed. She giggled as she outlined Hermione's eyes in kohl and applied a little blusher, and surveyed each other in the mirror.
"You're really pretty Hermione," Ginny smiled. But Hermione didn't feel it; her hair was tied back out of the way and her face a little rounder, her cheekbones less jutting and her eyes wide and expressive, sunken a little. "You think you look fat, but you look better- your face is more feminine now."
"I- I'm not getting fat," Hermione said seriously, clasping Ginny's hand seriously and taking a deep breath. She needed to talk about it, before she exploded; she wanted this baby and nobody was taking it away from her, and she was sure Ginny would understand.
"I know you're not, you're just-"
"Ginny I'm pregnant."
"Is this some sort of joke?" Ginny said, laughing uncertainly.
"No. I'm almost four months pregnant." Silence followed. Then Ginny gasped.
"But- no surely- not Ron-?"
"No! I wish it was, at least Ron would take some sort of responsibility." Hermione gulped. "It's Draco Malfoy's."
"Oh you're pushing the joke a little now!" Ginny said, grinning widely. "It doesn't matter if you've put on a few pounds Hermione, you can lose weight."
"Ginny would you listen to me! I'm four months pregnant with Malfoy's child and I don't know what to do!" She closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head, feeling sick. If she didn't believe her, who would? Perhaps she'd made a mistake in telling her...
"Oh my god," Ginny said. "It would explain everything though… was this at your party?" Hermione nodded. "Come here, it'll be alright." Hermione leant against Ginny and laid her head against her soft warm shoulder; she wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come and so she just rocked back and forth her arms wrapped around her friend.
"It's going to be okay," Ginny soothed. "It'll be fine…"
"It won't be fine," Hermione said miserably. "McGonagall says if I don't have an abortion she's making me leave Hogwarts, and I don't want to get rid of the baby, I just don't! Ginny, promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I promise," Ginny said sincerely. "I'll help you." Then, "Does Malfoy know? I thought you hated him."
"Not yet. I suppose I'll have to tell him eventually but I just keep putting it off- I really don't want to. I don't know how he'll react- I'm just scared. I thought I hated him too, and it was just because I was drunk, I think. I hate him now! Nobody knows except you and Madam Pomfrey, and McGonagall- they might have told other teachers, I don't know. Oh, what will my parents say?" She hugged Ginny again.
"Come on, let's go see Harry and Ron," Ginny said gently. "See how their snowball fight is doing, and at least it'll take your mind off your worries."
They hurried down from the dormitory and made their way into the Common Room, but by the looks of things the fight had finished. Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Ron were laid across the chairs, laughing and chatting, whilst Harry and Lavender were casually talking. Parvati was waiting for Hermione, and the look on her face showed something was wrong.
"Hermione!" Parvati shouted, looking thunderous. "I lent you my top ages ago, and I found it on the floor of the dormitory earlier- like this!" She brandished a red top, which was covered in vomit from when Hermione had been ill the other day.
"Sorry," Hermione said pleadingly, but Parvati wouldn't listen. The whole of the Common Room had gone silent, listening to Parvati rant and rave.
"This is the last time I lend you anything! Every time you have lent me something it's come back in perfect condition, and this top was brand new- Calvin Klein I'll have you know! Mum bought it for me for my birthday, and now it's ruined. The stain will never come out!"
"I'm really sorry Parvati," Hermione began again, but she didn't get to finish.
"I'll never forgive you. I specifically told you to look after this one- I didn't even want to lend you it, Lavender said you'd ruin it-" at this point, Lavender blushed and stared determinedly at the floor from across the room, "-and I should have listened to her! She's a real friend, she looks after my things. I don't care how ill you were Hermione, you could have spewed up elsewhere!" Parvati finished and glanced around with satisfaction that everyone in the Common Room was watching.
"Leave her alone," Ginny snapped, facing Parvati. "She's really ill, what was she supposed to do? Hermione's got enough on her plate, what with the baby on the way-" Ginny stopped and clapped a hand around her mouth, but not soon enough. The Common Room had been listening. Everyone had heard. The damage was done.
More coming soon… for those who wonder why Hermione's pregnancy is so important, remember that at seventeen everyone usually goes through strange and traumatic times, and though these are extreme I'm simply building on what could happen. I'm no JK Rowling- for one thing the talent is less and ideas much more simple- but I have my own thoughts and opinions. Remember that everyone interprets things in their own way. Thanks to the dozens of people who continue to read, review and be honest!
